Wagner College hoopsters host Lifestyles for the Disabled event

Photo Courtesy of Wagner CollegeShawn-Marie Heiliger of Wagner charts the progress of Lifestyles for the Disabled participants at a recent clinic.

GRYMES HILL -- The Wagner College men’s and women’s basketball teams participated in the inaugural Lifestyles for the Disabled Layup For Life Jamfest at the Spiro Sports Center recently.

Members of both Seahawk teams led the 60-plus participants through stations that included shooting, ball handling, passing, agility play and skills breakdown. The event ended with a 20-minute game that pitted the Green and White against the Lifestyles Community.

“We at Lifestyles consider ourselves extremely lucky to have Wagner as one of our strongest community partners,” said Scott Salinardi, director of programs at Lifestyles for the Disabled. “Events like this truly make a difference in the lives of the Lifestyles program participants. The players, coaches and administrators who helped put this together did a fantastic job and created a memorable experience for everyone involved.”

Lifestyles began operating in 1994 through collaboration amongst parents, community organizations, local business people and a group of developmentally disabled adults (program participants).

“In my 20-plus years of coaching, I have never been involved in a more rewarding event then Layup For Life,” said Wagner men’s basketball assistant coach Scott Smith. “It moved me to see our young men and women get involved the way that they did.”

“Lifestyles is a unique and outstanding organization and I was just thrilled to be a part of the event,” said Wagner women’s basketball assistant coach Jen Derevjanik. “Our kids were great with the event, and as a coach it was one of the most rewarding things I have ever been a part of.”

The mission of Lifestyles has always been to provide quality learning experiences that will enable all program participants, regardless of their disability, to become productive members of society and live their lives with dignity and as independently as possible. Lifestyles focuses on the abilities of each individual, rather than their disability.

“It’s always a great feeling knowing that we’re able to give back to the community” said rising junior guard Latif Rivers. “I had an incredible time and it was an amazing experience that we all enjoyed. We’re definitely looking forward to other opportunities like this in the future.”

Kevin Ross contributed to this story. 

</3m><rr>Lifestyles for the Disabled is located in Willowbrook at 930 Willowbrook Rd., Building 12-G, 10314. The offices can be reached by calling 718-983-5351 or 718-982-1952 or via email at info@ifdsi.org.